Some Sky receivers will show UK EPG if plugged in without card. Some remain on Irish EPG.

I tried that once, before ITV went FTA, and I lost all the encrypted channels off the EPG. I never could get that to work again, but it would have been handy. No annoying "Insert your Sky Viewing Card" message when flicking through the channels you cant receive anyway (if your using the box just for FTA). To be honest though OP, you should consider getting the installer to run two cables to wherever you want that second box, and invest in a Freesat PVR unit, that will at least let you record the UK channels which a Sky+ box wont let you do unless the channel is on the EPG.

thanks for reply - i got this to work ok except the RF2 output seems to be disabled when I removed the card i.e. I can't use the remote sky eye to control the box anymore from a different room. Do you know if this output is disabled when the card is removed??
Thanks
Mc